soiled tappa, were a great
number of curious black-looking little implements of bone and wood, used
in the various divisions of his art. A few terminated in a single fine
point, and, like very delicate pencils, were employed in giving the
finishing touches, or in operating upon the more sensitive portions of the
body, as was the case of the present instance. Others presented several
points distributed in a line, somewhat resembling the teeth of a saw.
These were employed in the coarser parts of the work, and particularly in
pricking in straight marks. Some presented their points disposed in small
figures, and being placed upon the body, were, by a single blow of the
hammer, made to leave their indelible impression. I observed a few, the
handles of which were mysteriously curved, as if intended to be introduced
into the orifice of the ear, with a view perhaps of beating the tattoo
upon the tympanum. Altogether, the sight of these strange instruments
recalled to mind that display of cruel-looking mother-of-pearl-handled
things which one sees in their velvet-lined cases at the elbow of a
dentist.

The artist was not at this time engaged on an original sketch, his subject
being a venerable savage, whose tattooing had become somewhat faded with
age and needed a few repairs, and accordingly he was merely employed in
touching up the works of some of the old masters of the Typee school, as
delineated upon the human canvas before him. The parts operated upon were
the eyelids, where a longitudinal streak, like the one which adorned
Kory-Kory, crossed the countenance of the victim.

In spite of all the efforts of the poor old man, sundry twitchings and
screwings of the muscles of the face denoted the exquisite sensibility of
these shutters to the windows of his soul, which he was now having
repainted. But the artist, with a heart as callous as that of an army
surgeon, continued his performance, enlivening his labours with a wild
chant, tapping away the while as merrily as a woodpecker.

So deeply engaged was he in his work, that he had not observed our
approach, until, after having enjoyed an unmolested view of the operation,
I chose to attract his attention. As soon as he perceived me, supposing
that I sought him in his professional capacity, he seized hold of me in a
paroxysm of delight, and was all eagerness to begin the work. When,
however, I gave him to understand that he had altogether mistaken my
views, nothing could exc